Abrading tool



March `31, 1942.`

L. w. GoDDU ABRADING' TooL Filed May 27, r1959 2 sheets-sheet 2 JNVENTOR. LLoYo w. connu Patented Mar. 31, 1942 2,277,696 ABRADING TOOL Lloyd W. Go'ddu,

American Optical Southbridge, Mass.,

Company,

assigner to Southbridge,

Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application lVIay 27, 1939,

4 Claims.

y This invention relates to improvements in abrading and has particular reference to a novel abrading apparatus and tool and novel methods of abrading embodying said apparatus and tool.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an abrading apparatus and tool for forming a bevelled surface on a piece of work wherein the said work may be fed directly into the bevel of the tool and has particular reference to a novel method of abrading and making the apparatus and tool for said abrading.

Another object is to provide an abrading tool for bevelling the edges of lenses wherein both surfaces of the bevel may be formed simultaneously with substantially little wear on the tool and by feeding the edge of the lens directly into the bevel forming edge of said tool.

Another object is to provide a novel arrangement and method-of bevelling lenses whereby the position of the apex of the bevel on the iinished lens may be positively controlled.

Another object is to provide a lens bevelling apparatus and improved tool therefor whereby the lens may be reduced to desired shape and the bevel simultaneously formed thereon in one complete revolution of said lens in engagement with the abrading tool. v

Another object is to provide a novel bevelling tool and method of making the same whereby the tool may be easily trued at different intervals during the use thereof and with which a sharp bevel may be formed on the lens or means being bevelled.

Another object is to provide a novel abrading tocl and method of making same wherein the main body portion of the tool is formed of metal of disc shape having a peripheral portion formed of separate sections so joined as to produce a bevelled circumferential groove throughout the edge of the disc with the said groove impregnated with particles of abrasive material.

Another object is to provide novel methods of producing abrading tools having the abrading surface thereof formed of particles of crushed diamonds or other hard abrasive materials.

Another object is to provide .a novel method of making abrading tools of the above character wherein the line of abrasion during the use of the tool will extend substantially throughout the entire width of the effective abrading surface of the tool.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following descripti-fn taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement of parts and methods shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying'claims.

Serial No. 276,071

(Cl. 51--2(l6) I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details, arrangements and methods shown and described as the preferred forms only have been given by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. I is a front elevation;

Fig. Il' is abottom plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. I;

Fig. III is an end elevation oi the device illustrated in Fig. I;

Fig. IV is a detailed edge elevation of improved abrading tool used in the device embodying the invention;

Fig. V is a side elevation of the tool illustrated in Fig. IV;

Figs. VI, VII and VIII are fragmentary views illustrating various steps in the process of manufacturing the tool illustrated in Fig. IV; and

Fig. IX is a fragmentary section view of a modied form of the tool.

Abrading machines for forming a bevelled edge on a lens whereby both of the opposing edges of the lens are bevelled simultaneously are not new in the art. It has been usual, however, in most prior art instances to use abrading tools of la Composite material which is readily susceptible to wear. Bevelled edging machines embodying such tools therefore made itv necessary to angularly dispose the lens relative to the bevel of the tool so as to avoid having the lens reach the extreme apex of the bevel. This is because of the fact that the quick wearing nature of the material ofthe tool would not permit a sharp bevel to be formed on the lens if the saidlens were fed directly into the bevelled face of said tool. The quick wearing nature of such tools if fed directly in the groove of 'the tool would result lin the apex soon becoming rounded and thereby forming a similar rounded edge at the apex of the bevel formed on the lens or work. Such prior art tools, due to their nature of being readily susceptible to wear, constantly necessitated truing with the result that the diameter of such tools were constantly changed and made it necessaryy to provide adjustable means for` cornpensating for said wear whereby the tool and work could be positioned in desired abrading relation with each other so as sultant size or diameter of the lens.

The present invention, therefore, is directed particularly to overcoming .the difficulties of the above prior art arrangements through the vprovision of an abrading tool which is resistant. to wear, which will allow the lens to be fed directly into the apex of thebevelY of the tooland enable the position of the apex of the resultant bevel on the lens to be controlled relative to the opposed surfaces of the lens.

Another advantage of the-present invention is that the lenses do not have to be constantly .re--

to control the revolved but only need one complete revolution to complete the bevelling process. This distinguishes from the prior art bevelling devices in that it has been usual in the prior art to rotate the lens throughout a plurality of cycles of movement in order to reduce the lens to the desired size and contour shape. With the present invention the size and contour shape may be formed in a single revolution of the lens.

Another advantage of the present invention is that novel means and method of forming an abrading tool has been provided whereby the tool may be quickly and easily trued at different intervals during the use thereof which truing results in only a slight change in the initial diameter of the abrading tool so that only a slight and controllable adjustment for compensating for the wear of the tool is necessary as compared with most prior art devices.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the apparatus of the device embodying the invention, as illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. vI to III inclusive, comprises a head I mounted for swinging movement on an upper shaft 2 suitably supported by conventional bearing brackets or the like in the finished device. These brackets are of conventional type and are not shown. The head depends from the shaft 2 and constitutes a bifurcated portion having bearings 3 and 4 in the spaced branches thereof. II, the bearing 3 has a sleeve 5 rotatably supported therein and carrying a drive pulley, gear or the like 3 by which said sleeve may be rotated internally of said bearing. Internally of the sleeve 5 there is provided a stud Shaft 'I having a bearing pad 8 adjacent one end thereof for engaging the side surface of the lens or work 9. The opposing end i9 of the stud shaft is threaded stud shaft 'I may beadjusted longitudinally to variable positions relative to the bearing 3. Said sleeve 5 is provided with a slot I2 in which a key I3, carried by the stud Shaft 9, is slidably mounted. This slot I2 and key I3 connect the said sleeve 5 and stud shaft I for simultaneous rotation. The opposing bearing 4 has a stud shaft I4 slidably mounted therein. The shaft I4 has a bearing pad I5 for engaging the opposed side surface of the work or lens 9. The stud shaft I4 is provided with an enlarged slide portion I6 operably fitted within the internal bore of the bearing 4. A suitable coil spring or the like I1 is adapted to engage the enlarged portion I6 adjacent one end thereof and to engage the end I8 of a sleeve I9 internally of the bearing 4 adjacent its opposed end so as t constantly urge the bearing pad I into engagement with the work or lens 9 and urge said lens into engagekeyed to the sleeve I9 in such'a manner that the stud shaft may be moved longitudinally of said sleeve and yet be interlocked so as to rotate therewith. The sleeve I9 has a solid end 29 provided with a reduced portion 2I on which a suitable former 22 may be locked by a clamp nut or the like 23. The sleeve I 9 is held against longitudinal movement relative to the bearing 4 by an internal integral flange 24 and by an external collar 25.

It is to benoted that the former 22 and lens or work 9 are positioned in axial relation with each other.

" of the lens relative to and grooved connection 26 between the former and the support therefor, automatically positions the former in desired meridianal location. This is a conventional type of connection and for this reason, is not shown in detail.

The work or lens 9 is adapted to be held in engagement with a bevel tool 27 which is rotated by means of a pulley, gear or the like 28through `any suitable source of power. The tool 21 is mounted on a shaft 29 rotatably supported in the bearing 30, and the driving pulley or gear-28 is secured adjacent the outer end of the shaft. The tool 2l is so constructed as to have a V-shaped groove 32 in the circumferential edge thereof and the face of the groove is preferably impregnated with particles of abrasives such as crushed diamonds, Sapphires, or any other known abrasive particles. The specific characteristics of this tool will later be described more in detail.

A contact shoe 33 of a similar size and shape as the abrading tool is mounted on the end 34 of a shaft which is free to rotate in the bearing SI. This contact shoe is also provided with a circumferential V-shaped groove 35, simulating the groove in the abrading tool. It is to be noted that the contact shoe 33 and abrading tool 2'! are retained in given spaced relation with each other and the said shoe has a floating rotary connection on the end 34 of the shaft, so that it ma be rotated independently of the tool.

It is extremely essential in beveling the edges of lenses to form the bevel so that the apex thereof will be located in desired relation with the edge. To obtain the initial spaced location the former, gauge means,

36, are provided. This gauge means constitutes a bearing 3l carried by a rock lever 3B which is pivotally attached at 39 to the head of the device. A sleeve 40, having a beveled former contact 4I thereon is slidably supported in the bearing 3l, so that the grooved portion of the former contact 4I may be positioned in aligned relation with the beveled contour edge of the former 22. Internally of the sleeve 49 there is slidably and adjustably supported a rod 42 having a transverse bearing 43 adjacent one end thereof, in which a gauge contact 44 is adjustably supported and held in adjusted position by a clamped screw or the like 45. The opposed end of the rod 42 is provided with a threaded portion 46 on which an adjustable nut 41 is rotatably supported. The sleeve 46 is provided with an internal slot 48 in which such as illustrated at y is slidably mounted a key 49 carried by the rod Suitable means, such as a tongue This is to hold the contact 4I and gauge contact 44 in axial relation with each other. The bevelled contact 4I and the gauge contact 44 are normally urged in a direction away from each other through the action of a coil spring or the like 5I), which engages a collar 5I carried by the rod 42 adjacent one end thereof and a shoulder 52 internally of the sleeve 49. By adjustment of the nut 4l on the threaded portion 45 of the rod, the distance between the contact end 53 of the gauge contact 44 and the apex of the groove in the member 4I may be altered. A suitable scale member 54 is provided on the rod 42, wherebythe extent of adjustment between the contact member 44 and end 53 of the gauge contact may be positively determined. This gauge, as stated above, is for the purpose of locating the lens 9 in proper abrading relation with the bevelled groove of the tool 2'I, that is, so that when the lens is reduced to size and desired contour shape as controlled by the shape of the form-V er 22, the apez of the bevel formed on the edge of the lens will .be in'. desired location relativefto the opposed surfaces of the lens. This is controlled by placingasuitable indication mark or the like on the lenswhich is to be'edged at substantially a -pointinwardly ofthe edge :ofthe lens to which course, it is to be understood that the lens has 1 been properly positioned between the contact members d and l5 prior to said gauging. The rod 42 is then adjusted to Zero position indicated on the scale 5ft, which position normally'locates the end 53 at a spaced relation relative to the apex of the groove in the member Iii substantially equivalent to the distance between the apices of the grooves in the abraded tool 21 and contact shoe 33. The Vlens 9 is then adjusted into engagement with the end 53 of the gauge means it by rotation of the hand nut H. This rotation of the hand nut Il in one or the other direction will allow the resilient means l1 to move the lens clamping means longitudinally of the bearings 3 and so that the mark on the lens may thereby be adjusted into engagement with the end 53 ci the gauge contact M. When in this position, the amount of adjustment neoessary to locate the apex of the inished bevel on l the edge of the lens in desired position is then determined and further adjustment ofthe yrod d2 inwardly or outwardly, as required, is eiected and the extent of this adjustment is positively determined by the scale means 5i. Ii the lens in the vicinity of the gauge point 53'is 2 mm. thick and it is desired to form the apex of the bevel intermediate the opposed surfaces of the lens at said location, the contact point 53 is backed away from the lens 1 mm., as controlled by the scale 5d, and the lens 9 is then adjusted into engagement with said contact point 53.

This locates the lens in desired relation with the abrading tool 21, so that when reduced to size, the apex of the bevel on the edge of the lens will be in proper location. After the position of the lens has been determined as specified above, the gauge means 36 is swung clear of the lens about its pivotal connection 33 with the head of the device.

It is to be noted that the speed of rotation of the abrading tool is much faster than the rotation of the lens, and that the lens is adapted to be fed into the abrading tool-under the action of a spring, weight or the like 55. The operation is such that the lens is initially fed into the abrading tool an amount suiiicient to allow the former 22 to engage -the contact shoe 33. in this position the rotation of the former will cause the said contact shoe to rotate through fricticnal contact. The lens is then slowly rotated substantially one complete revolution, or slightly more, andk is thereby reduced to size and the bevel simultaneously formed thereon. With this type of abrading ktool it is not necessary to first cut the lensv to approximate size, as has been usual in the past. The said lens, however, may be previously cut, if desired, so that a more positive gauge set-up may be obtained.

The abrading tool 21, as shown in Figs. IV and V, is preferably formed of two sections 56 and 51. The section 56 is provided with a hub 58 When having 4a taperedV bore 5S adapted to fit the tapered end of the'shaft29.

The section 56 is provided with a beveled surface 60 adapted to cooperate with a similar bevelledv surface 6I vide a V`shaped groove Vwhen the sections 56 and 51 are in assembled relation with each other. The section 51 is provided with a central hollowed out portion (52v having a bevelled portion 63which is so angled'as to t substantially the bevel El) on the face of the section '56. screws or the like the sections 5S and 51 in assembled relation with each other. The bevelled surfaces i and El are vimpregnated with abrasive particles, such as' crushed diamonds, Sapphires, carborundum or the y like, which in this particular instance are anchored in said surfaces by forming a plurality of spaced cuts $5 in said bevelled surfaces till and lil. These cuts are formed by suitable chisellike tools $5, such as shown in Figs. VI and VII. A out of the shape of the tool t5 is first formed in the surface lill or iii, as the case may be, is filled with particles of crushed diamonds or'other suitable abrasives, and the side walls of the cut are then forced toward. each other so as to engage with andk hold the particles of abrasive therein. The particles o abrasive are preferably mixed with a suitable conveying substance, such as sheep fat or the like. The closing in` ofV the side walls of the cut to secure the particles of abrasive therein is accomplished simultaneous to the forming'of the next adjacent cut in the w face, that is, the first cut is forme-d, the particles 'i' or abrasive held in the conveying substance are pressed in said cut, and the next successive cut is formed adjacent said first cut by the tool lili. The tool St is so shaped that in forming the next adjacent open cut, the walls of the iirst cut will be displaced soas to close in and secure the particles of abrasive in said cut. The cuts aresuccessively formed, filled and closed in this manner throughout the contour oi said members or sections 5% and 51. After the cuts have been f formed and lled throughout the contourl of said sections 55 and 51, the abrading surfaces til or 6I, as the case may be, are trued by a ksuitable shaping tool 61. said trued surfaces be of substantially thesame continued use the surfaces dressed and trued so as to maintain the desired effective abrading qualities of the tool. The body that the nishedrsections will diameter.

. of the sections 55 and 51 may be formed of any desirable, workable metal, suchy as copper alloy, nickel alloy, steel, etc., having a certain degree of .softness which will enable the ready working thereof.- When it is desired to retrue .the tool' and to reexpose the cutting edges of the abrasive particles, the face 6D or 5|, as the case may be, is etched by a suitable acid, such as hydroiluoric acid', or other acid which will remove a controlled amounty of the metal surrounding the outerparticles of abrasive and cause a given portion of the cut edges thereof to be exposed. This may also be accomplished by subjecting the face or the tool to a suitable abrasive treatment wherein a given amount of the supporting metal surrounding the abrasive particles may be removed.

If desired, the supporting metal ci the tool, in the vicinity of the abrasive particles, may be hardened to a controlled degree, depending, of course, upon the nature of the material used. In this instance, the degree of hardening is controlled so as to cause the wear of the supporting onthe section 51, so as to pro-l Suitable clamp t4 are provided for holding Care is taken that in formingr Duringv 6G and 5l may be.1

metal to substantially keep pace with the wear of the cutting edges of the abrasive particles, so as to tend to insure a more positive supporting of the abrasive particles during the use of the tool, so that the particles will not become dis-4 lodged and displaced from the working face of the tool prior to performing the full extent of their usefulness.

The cuts 65 are preferably angled in the direction of rotation of the tool, as indicated by the arrow 68 in Fig. VII, so that the abrading pressure on said abrasive particles will tend to force the abrasive particles inwardly of the cuts rather than tend to displace the particles from the face of the tool.

The angling of said cuts is illustrated at 69.

By forming the tool in two separate sections 56 and 51, the surfaces 60 and 6| may be easily retrued and a sharp apex of the bevelled groove formed by said two sections may be maintained. This is because of the fact that the angled portion 63 of the section 51 is adapted to be drawn into clamped engagement with the bevelled surface 60 and thereby forms a sharp apeX. The truing of the surfaces 60 and 6l results only in a slight change in diameter of the tool and this may be compensated for by any suitable adjustment means known in the art, but in most instances, is so slight that it may be neglected.

A modified form of tool is illustrated in Fig. IX, wherein the abrading faces 16 and 1i are preferably formed of a mixture of abrasive 4particles and granules of metal which are joined with each other by pressure and by a sintering process for holding the abrasive particles therein. It is to be noted that the supporting discs 12 and 13, or the sections 56 and 51, may be provided with ane nular members 14 and 15, having the abrading surfaces and 1I thereon. The said annular members may be secured to said discs 12 and 13 by soldering or the like, as illustrated at 16. The entire annular members 14 and 15 may be formed of sintered metal with only the affecting abrading surfaces 10 and 1| thereof formed of a mixture of particles of abrasives and metal joined by a sintering process. With this arrangement only the annular members 14 and 15 need to be replaced When the effective abrading surfaces thereof have become worn and impractical for use. It is to be understood that the abrading tool illustrated in Fig. IV may be provided with annular members simulating the members 14 and 15, if desired. Although a sintering process has been described it is to be understood that the abrasive particles might be supported by any suitable bonding means or material, such as artificial resins, bakelite or the like or by any suitable means.

The effective abrading surfaces 1D and 1I may be hardened to any desired degree of hardness in a manner similar to that described above in connection with the tool illustrated in Fig. IV.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that novel means and methods have been provided for. accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention, particularly that of providing a bevelling tool Which will be resistant to Wear and by which a sharp apex may be maintained in the V-shaped bevel face thereof and the position of the bevel on the resultant lens may be positively controlled.

diagrammatically face of the other Having described my invention, I claimt 1. An abrading tool for useywith a device of the character described comprising a pair of disc-like supporting members, at least one of said members having a hub thereon for attachment to a driving spindle, means for securing said discs in adjacent side surface relation with each other, each of said discs having a tapered peripheral surface so positioned relative to each other when the discs are in secured relation as to form a V-shaped peripheral groove, one of said discs having an undercut angled surface adapted to overlie a portion of the tapered peripheral surof said discs and to be urged into engagement therewith by the means for connecting said discs, each of said angled peripheral surfaces being impregnated with particles of abrasive.

2. An abrading tool for use with a device of the character described comprising disc-like means, at least one of said discs having a hub thereon for attachment with a driving spindle, means for securing said discs together in adjacent side surface relation with each other, each of said discs having an annular member secured to the periphery thereof with each of said annular members having tapered surfaces so positioned relative to each other as to form a peripheral V-shaped groove with one of said annular members having an undercut angled surface shaped to overlie a portion of the angled surface of the other of said annular members and to be urged into engagement with said surface by the means for connecting the discs and each of the angled surfaces of the annular members being impregnated with particles of abrasive.

3. `An abrading tool of the character described comprising a' disc-like member having a tapered peripheral surface impregnated with particles of abrasive and having a recess in one side wall thereof With an angled Wall adjacent the edge thereof intersecting the angled surface on its periphery, a second disc-like member having an angled peripheral surface impregnated With particles of abrasive so dimensioned that a side portion of said disc Will lie Within the recess of the side wall of the first disc with a portion of the angled peripheral surface on said second disc engaging the angled Wall of the recessand means for securing said discs together in this relation.

4. An abrading tool for use with a device of the character described comprising a pair of disc-like supporting members, at least one of said memthereon for attachment to a driving spindle, means for securing said discs in adjacent side surface relation with each other, each of said dises having a peripheral portion formed of sintered particles ofl metal having abrasive particles mixed therewith and held in position by said sintered particles of metal, said peripheral portions each having a tapered peripheral surface so positioned relative to each other when the discs are in secured relation as to form a V-shaped peripheral groove, one of said peripheral portions having an undercut angled surface adapted to overlie a portion of the tapered peripheral surface of the other of said portions and to be urged into .engagement therewith by the means for connecting said discs.

LLOYD W. GODDU. 

